Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-20
CITY AND DISTRICT.
A Mass Meeting Last Night I'm the Inter
est of the Clerks.

A thousand or more people showed an active SYM
PATTY with the clerks early-closing movement last
night by attending the mass meeting at Edels Hall
A brass band played at the open windows OF the
hall for half an hour, and considerable Of a crowd
were assembled on the pavement Those within
tle hall were such only really felt interest In
the purposes OF the meeting Nearly every
seat was occupied dozen or more ladies were
present. Besides the Clerks Assembly there were
present Large delegations from the Carpenters
Union, the q irpenters Assembly, Knights OF Labor,
the COiumbLi typographical Union, and the Excel
siOr tmixedl Assembly. Mr.. L. W. HambleJon, the
president OF the Clerks Assembly, introduced MI
August DOnath as the presiding officer OF the
evening
MR. DONATES ADDRESS
Mr.. DOnath expressed his satisfaction at being
selected 10 preside over an assemblage OF so many
honest men. Then in a brief address he stated the
purpose OF the meeting and gave some words OF
advice. He urged clerks who were not members OF
The Clerks Assembly TO join al once, saying that
IL was not honest for them 10 stand by and permit
Others To do all the work, and that II was not good
poIcy either, as the time would come when en-
plOyers would md II 10 their interest TO have
members Of the assembly In their service. He said
that lac knew OF but one employer who would not
permit his clerks 10 belong 10 the assembly. All
he had 10 say about this man was that he was not
ut 10 De an American citizen. The speaker was
here Interrupted by cries Of name him name
him! name hint" coming from all parts OF the
hail. Mr.. DonaIh refused 70 do so, saying that he
would leave the man TO his own cOnScience-he
was good church member
Mr. HANBLEroSs EXPERIENCE As A CLERK.
Mr.. Hambleton was next introduced, and gave
his experience as an oyer-worked clerk. lie spoke
70 clerks 10 urge their more general cooperation
In the early-closing movement, and pleaded with
the general public for assistance by early shopping
He particularly asked Government clerks TO make
their purchases before going home TO dinner. He
pointed out how each and every one no matter
what their employment, might shop early. He
said he reluctantly referred 10 the action OF certain
female clerks He said they got out OF their stores
AT O'Clock and after lettering about the streets,
went into other stores just a minute before
O'Clock. and kept the 7-o'clock clerks at work
after hours pulling down goods 10 show them.
he criticised the clerks for dealing with mer-
chants who keep their stores open until
that some clerks were afraid Of losing their
Positions II they joined the assembly. The assem-
bly had, In black and white, the declaration from
many OF the leading merchants that they did not
ask what orders their clerks belonged to 20 long
they were good statesmen He then read testimo-
mails from merchants who close at z o'clock de-
carng that they DO better business under the early
closing policy. Among them were G. G. Cornwell
q son, Vim. Hahn Co, c. Auerbach, n. l. Rosen-
Ashoy & Co, AID Calvin Wilmer Co
MR.. FEKRY's SPEECH.
Dennis Ferry, president of the Bricklayers'
Union, was the next speaker. Political parties
had. he said, endeavored TO elevate the human
race. Kings and pOtentates had met IN solemn
conclaye 10 consider. as they said the advance
Inent OF the human race. But on examination IL
mad always been found that they sought only TO
whole race They had tried political parties until
the natural course Of events the evolution OF ma
ture, had given birth 10 the Knights OF Labor. He
cOntrasted the condition OF the clerks before this
eariy-clOsing movement with their present condi-
lion, where the early closing has gone into effect.
He said he had watcher things, and had observed
that the stores that closed early were doing better
business, while those that Kept open late were
losing trade The popular love OF justice was
enecting this. He advocated the Inauguration OF
the ''card system" with the clerks, and not deal
Ing where the clerks have not assembly cards.
CoLoRED KNIGHT.
The next speaker was Jesse Lawson, a colored
Knight OF Labor. He said that they stood in this
movement for all that was best In government and
society. He said they asked the public to open
the eyes or their minds and tueir conscience and
See this movement In Its proper light. His line Of
argument was that with modern time and labor
saving inventions the number of hours of work.
and not the number OF wOrkInen, should be re-
cuced Osborne Ward, Jno. Thompson, Jos. Fan
ming and George Spreeye also spoke and favored
the thorough organization OF the clerks and the
boycOtting OF stores not acceeding totheir de-
mandS Resolutions were adopted In favor Of the
early CLOSING movement and promising not 10
patrOniZe merchants who keep open after o'clock.